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The Vogue Love Story

TO capture a first look of the new season in the August issue of Vogue, fashion editor Francesca Burns headed up north to South Yorkshire and Nottinghamshire to create a very British love story between Sam Rollinson and actor Max Minghella.

"Typically our shoots are pinned around a trend but for collections, where the clothing doesn't share a common theme, it's exciting to find a way to tell a story," says Burns.

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Inspiration came from the fact that both photographer Alasdair McLellan and model Sam Rollinson are from the north of England, near Doncaster, and that for the autumn/winter 2013-14 season the collections felt very romantic and nostalgic - designers taking the heritage of their brands or their nationalities and making it relevant for now.

"It was important to do something that felt very British, historic but not necessarily identifiable landmarks," Burns continues - and Thoresby Colliery and Roche Abbey made for the ideal spots. "The locations all say 'England' but not London. It's great to see that. Mining is such a big part of our national identity and we were very lucky to be allowed access to it."

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But it was no easy feat taking a picture on the top of a coal mountain.

"I was very worried about Sam in those Celine boots in the coal but we covered them in plastic and carried her up there," elaborates Burns of the opening image which sees Rollinson and Minghella in a gentle embrace atop the coal pile - which was also moved especially to get just the right backdrop in the shot. "There are so many beautiful places around the mine - the rape-seed field was perfect and then Roche Abby was magical."

Following a great season at the shows, it seemed only right that Sam Rollinson - a British model enjoying such international success - be the girl for the gig.

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"Not only is she incredibly beautiful but she is smart and funny, she has an ageless quality to her and an elegance that is very appealing. At the same time she has a very cool Britishness about her," says Burns.

As for Minghella, he won the office vote "hands down".

"He really got into the part. There are few actors who you could take to a coal mine in the pouring rain, cover with coal and dirt and not moan about it," adds Burns.

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Go behind the scenes on the shoot here. See the shoot in full in #AugustVogue, out now - download it on the iPad, for the Kindle or on Zineo here.

"Anyone travelling in that part of the world should visit Gina at The Garden Café - they have the best carrot cake I have ever tasted," says fashion editor Francesca Burns. Here's Sam Rollinson enjoying it.